ERIK NORTH SHOCKS ATHERSTONE WITH SEX OFFENSES BUT ESCAPES JAIL DUE TO DEMENTIA

In April 2018, a distressing case unfolded involving Eric North, an 85-year-old resident of Wood End near Atherstone, who was accused of indecently assaulting two young girls over a span of several decades. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, North was ultimately spared from imprisonment due to his diagnosed condition of vascular dementia, which rendered him unfit to stand trial.

North faced a total of eleven charges, including seven counts of indecent assault against a girl in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as four additional charges related to another girl. The case was scheduled to be heard at Warwickshire Justice Centre in Nuneaton, but before proceedings could commence, medical experts confirmed that North’s mental health condition prevented him from participating in the trial process.

As a result, the court was limited in its options. Instead of a full trial, a 'trial of fact' was conducted, where the jury was asked only to determine whether North committed the acts he was accused of. After deliberation, the jury found that North had indeed carried out all seven allegations concerning the first girl, and one incident involving the second girl.

Prosecutor Gary Venturi recounted that the initial allegations surfaced as early as 1994 when the first victim, then in her late teens, reported the abuse to police. North was arrested at that time, but he denied the accusations, and the victim was hesitant to pursue the matter further. Years later, after she married, she confided in her husband about the abuse, which prompted her to formally report the incidents to authorities in 2016.

She described how North would visit her family home during her childhood, initially touching her over her clothing. Over time, his actions escalated to touching her 'down below' and on her breasts beneath her clothing. She expressed her concern, stating, “If he could try something, he probably would.”

Further revelations came when a family friend of a teenage girl noticed her distress. The girl confided that North had touched her indecently over her clothing when she was just 12 years old. This disclosure led to a police investigation, which re-examined the earlier allegations against North.

Given North’s mental health diagnosis, the court faced limitations in sentencing options. A hospital order was deemed inappropriate because he did not suffer from a treatable mental illness. Judge Anthony Potter adjourned the case to explore whether a supervision order could be imposed, but subsequent inquiries revealed that both social services and the Probation Service considered such supervision unsuitable.

During the resumed hearing, North’s defense lawyer, Andrew Tucker, explained that the only viable options were an absolute discharge or a hospital order, with the latter being inappropriate. The court was advised that supervision under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act was not feasible.

Judge Anthony Potter addressed North directly, acknowledging his illness and the difficulty he might have in understanding the proceedings. The judge emphasized the impact of North’s actions on the victims, noting that both girls had suffered long-lasting effects. The judge stated, “It has been found that you committed indecent acts towards two children, one in the late 1970s and early 80s, and one more recently on one occasion. I have heard from both of them of the effect it has had on them, and from one the difficulties your acts have caused her for many, many years.”

After considering all evidence and psychiatric reports, Judge Potter concluded that the only appropriate course of action was to grant North an absolute discharge, effectively ending the case without imposing a prison sentence. The decision underscored the complexities of balancing justice with the defendant’s health condition, leaving a lasting impact on the victims and the community of Atherstone.